Kushnergate: Gianni Infantino Of FIFA Became 21st Century Icarus While Channeling Mark Rutte At NATO. US$5.9 Million Not Enough. Treating Political Incontinence?
Gianni Infantino Of FIFA Became 21st Century Icarus Channeling Mark Rutte At NATO
Gravitational Pull Of Trump World Disposed Of Rational Thinking
Treating “Political Incontinence”
US$5,929,500.00 Was Not Enough- Preparing For A Big Payday Upon Departure
If Such A Terrific Opportunity, Why Not Let Everyone Now To Increase Competition With Goal For Better Value To The 211 FIFA National Associations?
Kushnergate
The deal has been abandoned. The story created by it remains far from resolved.
In the 8th Century, Icarus ignored instructions by Daedalus not to fly too close to the sun. If he did, the beeswax in his wings would melt. He ignored the warning. He fell from the sky into the sea and drowned.
In the 21st Century, Gianni Infantino, President since 2016 of Zurich, Switzerland-based Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), embraces the irresponsibility, recklessness, and selfishness of Icarus.
Wikipedia: “FIFA is an international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. Founded on 21 May 1904 to oversee international competition among the national associations of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. Membership now comprises 211 national associations. These national associations must also be members of one of the six regional confederations: CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia), UEFA (Europe), CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean), OFC (Oceania), and CONMEBOL (South America).”
Mr. Infantino could not control his attraction to the sun- represented for him by an insatiable appetite and desire for access to money, access to the powerful, proximity to the powerful, and enhanced connectivity to the trappings of power (hotel suites, security detail, general aviation and first class travel, motorcades, invitations to events)- and to be addressed, compensated, treated as a head of government, head of state, monarch, and sole owner of a company. He does not want to be in. He wants to be within the in.
From FIFA: In 2025, Mr. Infantino received US$5,929,500.00: Base salary: US$3.2 million. Variable compensation (bonus): US$2.7 million. Flat-rate allowances: US$29,500.00.
Egregious was Mr. Infantino believing he had the authority to negotiate the sale of an asset which he did not control, did not own and was not a shareholder. He did so for a year absent from an affirmative mandate from the thirty-seven-member FIFA Council. Such behavior by a public company executive would lead to swift dismissal.
Even if his employment contract and FIFA bylaws permitted him to secretly negotiate a private equity relationship for FIFA, why would he maintain secrecy if the result were to be so immensely beneficial to the 211 national associations which comprise FIFA? Why not create a negotiating committee? Why not discuss it with the media? If the process had been public, the value to FIFA of the private equity relationship may have been more valuable- because there would be competition rather than the process look more like a princely allocation from a wannabe monarch.
And what about the role of New York, New York-based JPMorgan Chase (2025 revenue approximately US$296 billion) which reportedly was engaged through teams in London, United Kingdom, and in New York. Did they know, did they ask if Mr. Infantino was acting with the authorization of the FIFA Council?
What Mr. Infantino did was similar to deed fraud, where a criminal uses forged documents to fraudulently transfer someone’s property deed into their name. In this case, he is not known to have forged any documents, but he is believed to have exceeded his implied authority. And, FIFA is a non-profit organization where leadership has unique fiduciary responsibilities.
The FIFA Council may need to purchase an annual subscription to Home Title Lock which provides “24/7 Monitoring, Urgent Change Alerts, and Restoration Services- We Call It Million Dollar TripleLock® Protection.” But, they will need to value protection in the billions.
Would anyone be surprised if having successfully sold-off a portion of FIFA, Mr. Infantino would then depart his position early… for a highly-compensated (and equity rich) position at New York, New York-based Thrive Capital?
Lord John Emerich Edward Dalberg Acton (1834-1902) said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
The question with the most profound consequences? Did Mr. Infantino do in secret with Joshua Kushner, founder of Thrive Capital, brother of Jared Kushner, who is a son-in-law of Donald Trump, President of the United States (2017-2021 and 2025-2029), and whose father, Charles Kushner, is United States Ambassador to the French Republic (2025- ), because he believed it best for FIFA, believed it best for him, or believed it best for FIFA and him? Enter Kushnergate.
An easy pathway to believe Mr. Infantino was driven by ego and blinded by money- for him. The proximity to power is intoxicating. Traveling among the billionaire class, particularly in Gulf Region countries, was particularly stressful. He has company.
Mark Rutte is Secretary-General (2024-2028) of the thirty-two-country member Brussels, Belgium-based North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). His 2025 comment “Daddy has to sometimes use strong language to get them to stop” when referring to President Trump remains the most cringe-worthy comment by a NATO Secretary-General. Is the golden icon NATO Peace Prizeensconced in the Oval Office at The White House in the offing?
The actions and comments by Messrs. Infantino and Rutte reflect a decision-making process grotesquely abnormal, hyper-sycophantical, and manifestly unwelcomed attempts to curry favor with President Trump, President Trump’s family (extended and immediate), President Trump’s friends, and the friends of the friends of President Trump, President Trump’s family, and President Trump’s friends.
Any doubt about Mr. Infantino’s sycophantical subservient form of megalomania was clarified by his creation of the FIFA Peace Prize… and, surprise, the golden icon was presented to President Trump as a consolation prize for not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. NOTE: The five members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee who select (in a formalized public annual year-long process) the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize are appointed by the Stortinget, the Parliament of Norway. Neither the creation, funding, nor recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize was affirmed by the 211 national associations comprising FIFA. Wonder why?
Mr. Infantino wants to project an image of a consummate Swiss national- charming, competent, dapper, multi-lingual, polite, and shrewd. These last months, he has gravitated toward boob.
He has embraced character best exemplified by the carbon dioxide-induced holes in Swiss cheese. Carbon dioxide produces flatulence.
His choice of engaging with Mr. Joshua Kushner and doing so secretly, reinforces his embrace of what’s-in-it-for-me.
Mr. Infantino knew fully the Kushner family brand is toxic for many who attend football matches, follow football matches, participate in football matches, and watch football matches.
Particularly so for members of national associations from Muslim majority countries who associate the Kushner family with decisions by the government of the State of Israel relating to the Occupied Territories (Gaza, East Jerusalem, West Bank), Iran, and Lebanon. There remains a recurring effort by some countries to prohibit a football team representing the State of Israel from participating in FIFA competition.
Muslim majority countries continue to seethe about a lack of sanctions imposed by the Brussels, Belgium-based twenty-seven-country member European Union (EU) upon the State of Israel and the State of Israel’s continuing participation in the annual Eurovision singing competition.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkiye (2014-2028), has since 2023 requested that NATO suspend the State of Israel from NATO engagement programs. NATO has refused.
To date, the common, unfortunate, and unhealthy strategy adopted by leadership of the EU, FIFA, and NATO: When they believe President Trump is nearing a politically incontinent moment, they run to the nearest Sycophants“R”Us retail store to purchase a monetary, verbal, or visual tribute.
The 211 national associations must now consider how to hold Mr. Infantino accountable for Kushnergate.
If Kushnergate is acceptable to FIFA and Mr. Infantino during his third term, what would become acceptable to FIFA and Mr. Infantino during his third and final term ending in 2031 when he will have fewer moral guardrails?
Governments and organization leadership are littered with those in their final (or what should be their final) terms- appointed or elected, saddling-up to self-enrichment opportunities for family members, friends, and themselves.
Unless he resigns or announces he will not seek another term, voters will await the March 2027 FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco.
The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will be hosted by Brazil.
The 2030 FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Morocco, Portugal, and Spain. Some 100th Anniversary commemorative matches are scheduled for Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Thus far, Andy Burnham, Prime Minister (2026- ) of the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), wants Mr. Infantino to resign. Will he have company?
Perhaps, time for FIFA to elect a woman as the organization’s president. The most recent two men have not been role models for the good. They have been role models for the bad.
